Chrysanthemum plant named Titan

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Titan having white ray florets which are yellow in center and which do not pink with age, 8 week flowering response, compact cushion plant habit, very floriferous habit, and its suitability for garden mum production in varying size containers.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum morifolium, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar nameTitan.

Titan is a product of a planned breeding program which had the objectiveof creating new Chrysanthemum cultivars having compact habit, earlyflower response, excellent flower quality, white decorative flowers, andsuitability for production as a garden mum. Such traits in combinationwere not present or needed improvement in previously availablecommercial cultivars.

Titan was originated from a hybridization made by applicant in acontrolled breeding program in Parrish, Fla. in 1982. The female parentwas Husky, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,753. The male parent ofTitan was Freedom, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,898. Titan wasdiscovered and selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of thestated parentage by applicant in November 1982 in a controlledenvironment in Parrish, Fla.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Titan was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in March 1983in a controlled environment in Parrish, Fla. by a technician workingunder formulations established and supervised by applicant.Horticultural examination of selected units initiated in October 1983has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for Titan are firmly fixed and are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Titan, which in combination distinguish thisChrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Eight week flowering response.

2. Almost fully double flower form.

3. White ray florets, which are non-pinking a flowers age, and whichhave yellow centers.

4. Ray florets are up to 2.8 cm long and 9 mm wide.

5. Total flower diameter reaches 5.5 cm.

6. Compact cushion plant habit.

7. Very floriferous, producing a large mass of long lasting flowers.

8. Suitable for use as a garden mum for production in 41/2" to 1 galloncontainers.

Titan has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment suchas temperature, light intensity, and day length. The followingobservations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown inParrish, Fla. under greenhouse conditions which approximate thosegenerally used in commercial practice.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to Titan is Patriot, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 3,897. In comparison to Patriot, Titan has a two (2) week laterflower response and the ray florets are non-pinking as the flowersmature. The cushion habit and white decorative flowers of Titan aresimilar to those same characteristics of Patriot.

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical inflorescence andfoliage characteristics of Titan. The photographic drawing comprises ablack and white photograph with a few flowers and leaves being coloredto depict true color.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determinedbetween 11:00 and 11:15 a.m. on Oct. 21, 1987 under fluorescent light atParrish, Fla.

Classification:

Botanical.--Chrysanthemum morifolium, cv. Titan.

Commercial.--Decorative garden mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Double.

Diameter across face.--Up to 5.5 cm.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--White.

Color (upper and lower surfaces).--155D, with the petals near the centerbeing varying shades of 4A to 4D, with the more intense 4A appearing atthe center.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--Yellow (very few present).

Color (immature).--Yellow-green (very few present).

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present in disc florets only.

Gynoecium.--Present in both disc and ray florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--Approximately 25 cm when grown in the ground, given no longdays and one pinch. Height will vary depending upon growing conditions.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (lower surface).--147B.

Shape.--Ovate, deeply lobed and slightly serrate margins.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant namedTitan, as illustrated and described, and parts thereof.